Audio device, audio system, and volume value control method

Abstract

An audio device includes an amplifier having a volume control circuit, a communication circuit configured to communicate with a host apparatus, a processor, and a memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the audio device to perform: setting a volume value in the volume control circuit; receiving, from the host apparatus through the communication circuit, an instruction value indicating a volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; comparing the received instruction value with a set value that is a volume value set in the volume control circuit; and sending an instruction signal based on a comparison result to the host apparatus through the communication circuit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An audio device comprising:
 an amplifier having a volume control circuit; 
 a communication circuit configured to communicate with a host apparatus; 
 a memory storing instructions; 
 a processor configured to implement the instructions stored in the memory and execute:
 a volume setting task that sets a volume value in the volume control circuit; 
 a receiving task that receives, from the host apparatus through the communication circuit, an instruction value indicating a volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; 
 a comparing task that compares the received instruction value with the volume value set by the volume setting task; and 
 a sending task that sends an instruction signal based on a result of the comparison of the received instruction value with the set volume value made by the comparing task to the host apparatus through the communication circuit, 
 wherein, when the comparison result is that the received instruction value is larger than the set volume value:
 the instruction signal requests the host apparatus to execute a first volume value equalization control that decreases the volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; and 
 the receiving task receives, from the host apparatus, an updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The audio device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first volume value equalization control decreases the instruction value by one step repeatedly to repeatedly receive, from the host apparatus, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
     
     
       3. The audio device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first volume value equalization control ends when the updated instruction value is smaller than or equal to the set volume value. 
     
     
       4. The audio device according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the comparison result is that the instruction value is smaller than the set volume value:
 the instruction signal requests the host apparatus to execute a second volume value equalization control that increases the volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; and 
 the receiving task receives, from the host, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
 
     
     
       5. The audio device according to  claim 4 , wherein the second volume value equalization control increases the instruction value by one step repeatedly to repeatedly receive, from the host apparatus, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
     
     
       6. The audio device according to  claim 5 , wherein the second volume value equalization control ends when the updated instruction value is larger than or equal to the set volume value. 
     
     
       7. The audio device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a manipulation circuit including a first button and a second button, 
 wherein the sending task sends, to the host apparatus, an instruction signal that requests:
 one-step increase of the instruction value when the first button is manipulated in a case where the second volume value equalization control is being executed; and 
 one-step decrease of the instruction value when the second button is manipulated in a case where the first volume equalization control is being executed. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The audio device according to  claim 7 , wherein when the host apparatus is not connected:
 the first button increases the set volume value by one step when manipulated; and 
 the second button decreases the set volume value by one step when manipulated. 
 
     
     
       9. The audio device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a manipulation circuit configured to receive a manipulation instruction for the volume value, 
 wherein a volume value table is stored with volume value target values corresponding to received manipulation instructions on the manipulation circuit, 
 wherein the processor is configured to further execute a reading task that reads, in response to receiving a manipulation instruction on the manipulation circuit, a target value corresponding to the manipulation instruction on the manipulation circuit from the volume value table, 
 wherein the sending task sends manipulation information relating to the manipulation on the manipulation circuit to the host apparatus through the communication circuit, 
 wherein the receiving task receives, through the communication circuit, the instruction value from the host apparatus in response to the manipulation information and indicates a volume value to be set in the volume control circuit, 
 wherein the comparing task compares the received instruction value with the target value, 
 wherein during the first volume value equalization control, the processor repeats the sending task that sends, to the host apparatus, the instruction signal, which requests decrease in the volume value, and the receiving task that receives, from the host apparatus, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal, and 
 wherein when the received updated instruction value is smaller than or equal to the target value, the volume setting task sets the updated instruction value in the volume control circuit. 
 
     
     
       10. The audio device according to  claim 1 , wherein the instruction signal relates to change of the volume value. 
     
     
       11. The audio device according to  claim 1 , wherein the instruction signal updates the instruction value to be sent from the host apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The audio device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to further execute a masking task that masks a reception of a manipulation instruction for volume to a manipulation circuit, before executing the receiving task. 
     
     
       13. An audio system comprising:
 a host apparatus; and 
 an audio device configured to communicate with the host apparatus through a communication circuit, and comprising:
 an amplifier including a volume control circuit; and 
 a control circuit configured to:
 set a volume value in the volume control circuit; 
 receive, from the host apparatus through the communication circuit, an instruction value indicating a volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; 
 compare the received instruction value with the volume value set in the volume control circuit; and 
 send an instruction signal based on the comparison of the received instruction value with the set volume value made by the control circuit to the host apparatus through the communication circuit 
 wherein, when the comparison result is that the received instruction value is larger than the set volume value:
 the instruction signal requests the host apparatus to execute a volume value equalization control that decreases the volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; and 
 the control circuit, in the receiving of the instruction value, receives from the host apparatus, an updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. A volume value control method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, from a host apparatus, an instruction value indicating a volume value to be set in a volume control circuit of an audio device; 
 comparing the received instruction value with a volume value set in the volume control circuit; and 
 sending an instruction signal based on the comparison of the received instruction value with the set volume value made in the comparing step to the host apparatus, 
 wherein, when the comparison result is that the received instruction value is larger than the set volume value:
 the instruction signal requests the host apparatus to execute a first volume value equalization control that decreases the volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; and 
 the receiving of the instruction value receives from the host apparatus, an updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The volume value control method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first volume value equalization control decreases the instruction value by one step repeatedly so that the receiving step repeatedly receives, from the host apparatus, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus, according to the sent instruction signal. 
     
     
       16. The volume value control method according to  claim 15 , wherein the first volume value equalization control ends when the updated instruction value is smaller than or equal to the set volume value. 
     
     
       17. The volume value control method according to  claim 14 , wherein, when the comparison result is that the instruction value is smaller than the set volume value:
 the instruction signal requests the host apparatus to execute a second volume value equalization control that increases the volume value to be set in the volume control circuit; and 
 the receiving step receives, from the host apparatus, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent instruction signal. 
 
     
     
       18. The volume value control method according to  claim 17 , wherein the second volume value equalization control increases the instruction value by one step repeatedly so that the receiving step repeatedly receives, from the host apparatus, the updated instruction value that has been updated by the host apparatus according to the sent signal. 
     
     
       19. The volume value control method according to  claim 18 , wherein the second value equalization control ends when the updated instruction value is larger than or equal to the set volume value.